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Mini the Minx

1K views 12 replies 5 participants last post by  chris313nt 
#1 · (Edited)
Hi, my name is Sam, and my little yellow peril is driving me mad.
I've owned her for 6 months now and was delighted to own such a lovely fun to drive little car. That was until she decided to start throwing out plumes of smoke from her exhaust and using oil like it's going out of fashion. I feel like Penelope Pistop when I'm in a traffic jam, as, If Mini the Minx has a mood on her she will throw an enormous plume of smoke from her exhaust, leaving the poor car behind lost in the mist and choking on her fumes!
Anyway, this is my main reason for joining the forum, to pick some brains, as my usual mechanic is at a bit of a loss and discussing such things as new engines!!!!!
My other drive is a VW T5, which TOH and I have painstakingly converted from tatty breakdown truck to our pride and joy campervan! I love the extremes of jumping from lumbering 2.5 diesel van to my nippy mini (if she ever runs right again that is)!
Hello anyway, nice to meet you all.
Sam x
 

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#3 ·
Thanks roadhog,
Suggestion duly noted and taken on board. The cloud effect mainly happens when the engine is warm at low revs, either on tickover or when you pull your foot off the gas, tho it does kind of splutter just before it does it, it's not a full on cough. Hard to explain, sorry. Doesn't seem to have any other symptoms other than a slight mis when cold. (May not even be related).
Didn't do this when I bought it 6 months ago, started maybe 2 months ago really, tho it must have been burning oil as it was using some and the exhaust pipes were a bit coked in hindsight. Had a test to see if any gases in the header tank - came back with nothing, and passed MOT with no problems and no advisories mid June.
 
#5 ·
No gases in the header tank is good as it sort of rules out any head gasket issues. Has your mechanic done a compression test? Leak down check? That would help to confirm whether the engine is healthy or not.
My guess is still turbo seals. Please make sure you post up the end result of all this.
 
#6 ·
Many thanks for the help.
I think we will change our mechanic! He hasn't done a compression or leak down test. We have a Garage a little further away that we have used for our VW van before - they are Mini specialists as well as VW so I am going to bite the bullet and take it there - less convenient location but especially after your advice I think it will be well worth it. I think at the moment our existing guy is looking for a sledgehammer to crack a nut.
I will keep you updated how we get on.
At the end of the day I love my mini, it drives a dream (if you don't look out the back window) so she needs fixing and asap so I can enjoy her properly with confidence.
Thanks
Sam
 
#7 ·
Well Mini the Minx is finally back from the garage and we hope is on the road to recovery.
The oil / smoking issue was apparently the cam cover building up pressure and shootin oil back into the turbo when you let your foot off the throttle and the turbo spins backwards sucking it thru. We have had a redesigned rocker cover on now. Fingers crossed. (This is my interpretation of what the lovely Nigel at Prestige Warrington told me so may not be completely accurate). She still smokes a bit at the moment as there was a lot of oil in the system that they couldn't clear fully. She's a watch and see case on this front.
Whilst she was in there tho I was told that she had the more serious issue of death rattle! Driving a VW van usually I had noticed this I suppose, but thought nothing of it - when Nigel said though he was scared to rev the car it became a bit more of an issue though. So the oil issue became secondary and a new cam chain was added to the list.
One very quiet Mini the Minx tonight - now I realise just how much she rattled before - boy is it good to have her back, even if my purse is considerably lighter for the experience! ��
 
#8 ·
Well I'm having a total nightmare!
As I stated in my previous post she was home from the garage running nice and quiet but still smoking. Well the smoking got worse and the emissions warning light came on! Rang the garage up and they collected her after only being home a day! She's been in another week. Valve stem oil seals checked, another breather pipe changed from the cam cover and several other tests done. Compression test fine. Returned home again today and she's smoking worse than ever. Just driving around town and the emissions light is on again. She was smoking so bad it was like driving in thick fog.
I could cry! 2 weeks, £1k later and she's worse than ever. I know the cam chain has been done and that needed doing, but I didn't put her in the garage for that. I put her in to have the smoking sorted, and it just seems to have made matters worse. I'm at the end of my tether (and my savings) now. Any advice, suggestions, ideas welcome.
I've had her 6 months!!!!! Funnily enough she only came with a months warranty! Surprise!!!!
I need her sorting out - getting rid isn't an option.
 
#11 ·
I might have been tempted to stick with garage number 2 for a while. You asked them to sort a problem, they said they had, you paid and it's not sorted. They should have an obligation to sort it properly? By taking it to another place you're effectively starting all over again.
Although, having read your previous comment about the turbo spinning backwards explanation, it might not have been the best place. In my experience turbos do not spin backwards.

Either way, fingers crossed this next lot will find the cure.
 
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